Albums

BATTLES
By Joe Muggs

DROSS GLOP

09 May 2012

Words

Reviews

Albums

Warp’s flagship band Battles hit a groove after the departure of Tyondai Braxton, their 2011 ‘Gloss Drop’ album showing they could retain all their weird-rock and electronica impulses but make something oddly accessible. This remix compilation is a Who’s Who of the electronic left field, but doesn’t quite retain the character of the album. The deep, droney techno of The Field, Gui Boratto and Kangding Ray are lush, and Kode 9’s quirky beats are brilliant, but they don’t sound like part of a Battles LP. It would’ve been nice to have more in the vein of HudMo or Yamakata EYE of Boredoms – ie more in keeping with Battles’ 21st-century schizo rock.
File under Quirk-rock rerubs
Download ‘Rolls Bayce’ (Hudson Mohawke mix), ‘Dominican Fade’ (Qluster mix); ‘Africastle’ (Kode 9 mix)
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